Danushka Gunathilaka granted bail by a Sydney court

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been granted bail by a Sydney court after being charged with four counts of sexual assault on Thursday (17).

Australia media reported that the court heard Gunathilaka had the support of the Sri Lankan Cricket Association, and government and a surety of $ 150,000/- (Aus). 

Magistrate Janet Wahlquist granted bail on conditions including a $150,000 surety, reporting to police daily, a curfew from 9pm and 6am, not contacting the complainant and a ban on accessing Tinder and dating applications.

The 31-year-old was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Sussex Street before his team flew home without him following their Twenty20 World Cup loss to England.

Gunathilaka has been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He is accused of repeatedly choking and sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman in Sydney on November 2nd, days after they matched on Tinder.

Police facts allege the complainant had been clear that she “did not consent to engaging in sexual intercourse without a condom” or sexual intercourse that involved choking.

The document states Gunathilaka lives in Sri Lanka with his parents, has “no ties to the Sydney or Australian community” and that “investigators believe he is a flight risk”.

His initial bail application was refused by magistrate Robert Williams in Downing Centre Local Court on November 7th. The hearing was held in closed court before a suppression order application brought by police was withdrawn on November 9th.

Sri Lanka Cricket has suspended Gunathilaka from all forms of the game.